"From Montréal to the world," proclaims the restaurant Okeya Kyujiro on Instagram.
The premium omakase (chef's choice) sushi restaurant - considered the first of its kind in Montreal - has expanded west and has just opened a new location in Vancouver's Yaletown neighbourhood.
Situated at 1038 Mainland St (in the former Barre Fitness space), Okeya Kyujiro offers an exclusive reservation-only dining experience for a select few nightly, serving fresh, seasonal sushi imported from Japan and around the world.
"Our experienced Chefs meticulously select fish that suit the season, and use additional methods when necessary to maximize its umami ('delicious taste')," the restaurant website describes, adding: "We make it possible to indulge in Edomae sushi, as if you were in Japan."
The "multi-sensory" dining experience is akin to theatre - which is why you'll see the term "theatre" in the restaurant's blue logo, specifically "washoku," a Japanese term for a deep-rooted practice of preparing and serving food.
"Washoku is a social practice based on a set of skills, knowledge, practice and traditions related to the production, processing, preparation and consumption of food. It is associated with an essential spirit of respect for nature that is closely related to the sustainable use of natural resources," explains UNESCO's Intangible Heritage in its entry on the term.
The chef behind Okeya Kyujiro is Takuya Matsuda, from Mie Prefecture, Japan. "He started his career in the food industry at the young age of 15. Matsuda has accumulated more than 25 years of experience," notes the restaurant. "He is opening Okeya in Canada with the desire to introduce Japanese culture to many people, through his love for food."
Vancouver certainly makes a fitting choice for Matsuda and Okeya Kyujiro, considering our status as the most "sushi-crazed" city in the world outside of Japan.
What is the experience like? In Montreal, blogger @mtlcharles describes dining at Okeya Kyujiro this winter: "The combination of quality tasty ingredients (mostly imported from Japan), authentic display of Japanese cuisine methods and tools, all packed in a two-hour performance that left my dining accomplice and I breathless and full - eyes, mind and belly-wise!"
To make a reservation for the new Okeya Kyujiro in Yaletown, you'll have to do a little sleuthing; a passcode is required and the clue is hidden in the second slide of the restaurant's IG post about the Vancouver opening.
In the meantime, have a look at what diners in Montreal have shared about the Okeya Kyujiro experience.
